Your lifestyle does not always have to depend on your job

Contrary to popular belief, you can actually choose your work as per your lifestyle and not vice-versa. Here's how to plan this career move.

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Nov 26, 2018, 09.45 AM IST

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As a full time worker, you can experiment only after quitting your job or taking a sabbatical.

By Devashish Chakravarty

Most of us chase a conventional career path and live a fixed routine lifestyle according to it, which may not always make us happy. But, instead of continuing on that path, you can build a career that fits around your chosen lifestyle and not the other way around. Here’s how it can be done.

Build your own dreamsTypically, most Indians build a career based on their family background. If you are from a service class background, you are expected to get a job, preferably of an engineer, doctor or accountant, in a big firm and continue with it for the next 40 years. If you hail from a business or an agricultural background, instead of getting a job you are expected to join the family business. These dreams were born in the industrial era when options were limited and opportunities scarce. However, the present digital era has way more opportunities for you to create your own dream career.

Identify current lifestyleKnow what kind of life you are currently leading. Are you in an all-in career like in the military, business, politics or religion where all your time is dedicated to your work? Are you a 9-to-5 professional in the government or private sector with fixed after work hours? Are you in a seasonal profession like farming or audit? Or do you clock time by the hour like a freelancer or consultant? The left over time is your personal laboratory where you can experiment with a new life design before a full switch. However, as a full time worker, you can experiment only after quitting your job or taking a sabbatical.

Understand lifestyle designThe concept of lifestyle design has been made famous by Tim Ferris in his book The 4-Hour Workweek. It means you can choose to live your life free from a fixed corporate routine without disrupting your life. The exercise calls for keeping your current job while using your spare time and money to experiment and find your ideal lifestyle and dream career. You will succeed only by practicing different options till you find the one that works perfectly. Start right away!

Go beyond status quoFinally, define the life you want. One way of doing this is to ask yourself what kind of life you want after retirement. For instance, you may want to travel the world. Ask yourself— why not now? What if you could find a career that requires travelling extensively? Or what if you could plan a low budget trip every year? Doing this will require some sacrifices. Give up your comfort zones, people who eat into your energy, activities that suck away your time and liabilities that drain your money.

Now go ahead and experiment amongst the following lifestyles:

Location seekerDecide between a location dependent and location independent life. If you prefer the former, perhaps you want to settle in one place. If it’s the latter, you love to travel regularly. Try out both to decide your preference. For the first one, take a long holiday or a break in-between jobs and live in your favourite city. If you find the experiment fulfilling, switch full time and find a career in that location. For the traveller soul, temporarily switch to a job/career that involves travel. In either case, if the experiment doesn’t make you happy, you can return and craft a new dream.

Money seekerDecide what you enjoy more—possessions or experiences. If you like luxury cars, rent one for a day and see how you feel. If a high possession lifestyle driven by money is your thing, then get into a high-paying profession by acquiring the required qualifications or trying out the high-risk life of an entrepreneur. Switch back if you fail. If you prefer experiences, create spare time and a reasonable cash flow within your current life. Automate income through investments or figure out the 80-20 division at work where you can get paid 80% of your income from 20% of your clients or time. With the spare time and limited money, chase experiences by renting them out, finding cost-effective deals, reducing discretionary expenses to live out your chosen lifestyle.

Time seekerDo you want lots of free time or are you one of those who prefers the day to be full of commitments? In the former case, stick to a single employer and specialise in the same skill-set. You will build an internal network and indispensability and thus deliver results with minimal time and effort. Gradually become a specialist where you can choose lesser working hours instead of a promotion or increment to deliver the same output. The opposite of this is a packed day that is an outcome of changing jobs and careers, chasing promotions, picking generalist management roles like a CEO, entrepreneur or self-employed professional. The real question is—is time independence a big deal for you or not.

Stress seekerIf you enjoy high stress, deadline-oriented, ambitious lifestyle, get into jobs or roles which offer unlimited opportunities for responsibility and rewards, say in sales. If you are someone who needs a low stress lifestyle and doesn’t chase social status or achievements, then define what is enough for you in terms of money, position and responsibility. Refuse that team leadership role to zealously protect your stress levels.

Motivation for change1. PurposeWhen you experiment, figure out whether you are happy within the activities of your chosen lifestyle or do you crave purpose in your life? As a location seeker, you could find meaning in being attached your family and roots. Or, you may seek it in your profession, like that of a teacher who finds purpose in shaping minds.

2. OutputDoes better performance satisfy you or greater recognition and rewards? If it’s the former, then you are motivated by the need for gaining expertise. In this case, increasing knowledge or skills is more important to you than earning lot of money. Hence choose lifestyle and career options that offer learning over money.

3. EngagementHow engaged are you at work? Does this question even matter? If you are motivated by how involved you are in your daily tasks, you are driven by a need to be self-directed. Seek ownership and autonomy roles of leadership and self-employment over those that require compliance and supervision.

4. DestinationDid scoring top grades motivate you during examinations? Are you a goal seeker and willing to make extra effort and put in extra time? Since outcomes drive you, choose goals from status, money, power and fame and pursue suitable careers.

5. JourneyAre you energised by the everyday activities of a job or a lifestyle? Are you a traveler who enjoys the journey more than the destination? Stop chasing conventional money or position goals. Choose a lifestyle and job that you enjoy and money and autonomy will follow.

(The writer is founder and CEO at quezx.com and headhonchos.com)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.)